Ukraine Makes Black Sea Ports Container Comeback

The first cellular container vessel since the Russian invasion of Ukraine docked at the Ukrainian Black Sea ports on April 21, as reported by Informall BG, a Ukrainian cargo analytics firm.

Specifically, the vessel, Pros Hope, constructed in 2005 with a capacity of 1,118 TEU and chartered by Ukrainian company Iteris, arrived at the port of Chornomorsk. It offloaded break-bulk cargo and then loaded the first export container from Ukraine since the conflict began.

Previously, a multi-purpose cargo vessel named T-Mare, which can carry up to 373 TEUs, had transported the initial containers from Constanta, Romania to Chornomorsk since the onset of the war.

According to Informall BG, Pros Hope is slated to replace T-Mare, whose final voyage was scheduled for April 23. Moreover, Pros Hope is expected to be joined by another cellular vessel in the coming months. Together, they will reinstate direct Ukrainian feeder service to the Port of Chornomorsk.

Informall BG noted, "The possibility of restoring container service to larger container terminals in the Port of Odesa remains uncertain, pending considerations by stakeholders and the Ukrainian Armed Forces."

Daniil Melnychenko, an analytics consultant at Informall BG, stated, "The restoration of the Ukrainian feeder service marks a significant step towards restoring traditional container shipping to Ukraine avoiding complex overland transit procedures that still exist with ports of Poland and Romania. This initiative not only creates business opportunities but also addresses the pressing humanitarian needs of the country finally allowing to decrease logistics cost and delivery time."